Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will introduce full flat-bed seats in the BusinessElite® cabin of all transcontinental flights operating between New York and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle beginning in March 2013.  All of Delta’s Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft serving these transcontinental markets will offer the flatbed seats over approximately the following 24 months.

Transcontinental flying will be operated using a combination of Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft types.  The first 767 will begin flying in March of 2013, between New York – JFK and Los Angeles. This flight will be timed to provide seamless connections with Delta’s Los Angeles – Sydney flight in both directions, and offer JFK – Sydney customers a flatbed product and onboard experience throughout their itinerary. By June, four of Delta’s seven daily flights between JFK and LAX, and one of five daily flights between New York and Seattle/Tacoma, will operate with a 767 widebody aircraft featuring the flat-bed product in the BusinessElite cabin.

The 767 transcontinental product features an entirely new interior including 26 full flat-bed BusinessElite seats and direct aisle access at every seat in a 1-2-1 configuration.  The 21-inch wide seats offer an average bed length of 79 inches and feature a 10.6-inch video monitor.  The 767s are configured with 29 Economy Comfort seats featuring 35″ of pitch and 50 percent more recline, in addition to 171 Economy seats.  Every seat in the Economy cabin features a 9-inch video monitor and USB power.  Standard 110v power is available in the BusinessElite cabin and Economy Comfort section.

Sixteen full flat-bed seats on the updated transcontinental 757 fleet will be arranged in a 2-2 configuration and offer a 20-inch wide seat and an average bed length of 79 inches. Each BusinessElite seat will feature a high definition 16-inch video monitor.  This fleet modification will also include changes to the Economy cabin, with 44 Economy Comfort seats offering 35 inches of pitch and 50 percent more recline, in addition to 108 Economy seats.  All seats in the Economy cabin will feature a nine-inch video monitor, with standard 110v and USB power ports available at every seat.  Prior to the full cabin modification and by next summer, the transcon 757 fleet will increase the number of Economy Comfort seats to 25, up from 11 today.

The entire transcon fleet will feature in-flight Wi-Fi and industry leading in-flight entertainment with a library of more than 1,000 on-demand options. Additionally, the 757 will feature 18 channels of live satellite TV.

Beginning in May of 2013, transcontinental customers flying into and out of New York’s JFK will experience first hand Delta’s new $1.2 billion expansion of Terminal 4, which will host all flights operating to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.  The Concourse B extension will include the largest Delta Sky Club in the system, as well as nine new international gates, for a total of 16 the airline will occupy. The project will improve passenger flow by adding more capacity at check-in areas and security checkpoints. The state-of-the-art facilities also will feature a new automated baggage handling system and larger shopping and dining areas post-security. The project expands baggage claim and Customs and Border Protection areas to speed fliers through the airport. Delta jets will see faster taxi times with the addition of dual taxiways, improving on-time performance.

Summer 2013 flight schedules for transcontinental flights in these markets are below.

July 2013 schedule between New York – JFK and Los Angeles

July 2013 schedule between on New York’s JFK and Seattle

July 2013 schedule between New York’s JFK and San Francisco

Transcontinental Business Elite Product

Delta has already transformed coast-to-coast travel with its current transcontinental BusinessElite product, with service elements including a gourmet three-course menu from renowned chef Michael Chiarello paired with a wine menu selected by Delta’s master sommelier Andrea Robinson; an extensive library of on demand movies, TV shows, music and games; and Gogo In-flight Internet access. Premium pillows, quilted duvets, noise-canceling headsets and adjustable winged headrests provide additional comfort.

Delta’s decision to install full flat-bed seats on its transcontinental flights complements the airline’s current investment in full flat-bed seats on its entire international widebody fleet of more than 140 aircraft.  To date, 46 percent of aircraft have been modified including all Boeing 747, 767-400ER and 777 fleet types, with the entire widebody fleet scheduled to be complete in early 2014.

The expansion of full flat-bed seats to the transcontinental product is the latest in the airline’s more than $3 billion investment in enhanced global products, services and airport facilities through 2015. In addition to investments in transcon, Delta operates the largest Wi-Fi-enabled fleet in the world, is adding recharging stations at more airports, has added more First Class seats and in-flight entertainment to its domestic product; offers Economy Comfort on all two-class aircraft; is adding personal, in-seat entertainment for both BusinessElite and Economy class customers on all long-haul international flights; has updated Delta Sky Clubs throughout the system; and is overhauling its terminal facility for international customers at its two largest global gateways – the new international terminal in Atlanta now open and the expanded international terminal opening next May at New York-JFK.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 767-332 N126DL (msn 24076) climbs away from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

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